TIP! A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Defense is what stands between you and a win.

People of all ages and social strata the world over love basketball. Anyone can play basketball, no matter what age. When you’re playing, you have to cooperate with others and you have to be a good sport no matter what happens. The article below is great for people that want to learn a lot about basketball.

TIP! Be sure to dribble correctly every time. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand.

When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. Bring the ball no matter where you go. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. If you have to watch the ball, you will be unable to see whatever is going on at court level.

TIP! Crossovers are key for ball handlers. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover.

Proper balance is essential when shooting. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot. This is simply an improvised move. Good balance while shooting will lead to landing more baskets.

TIP! Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team.

Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. It needs to get to the player at their waist. One good rule of thumb is to bounce the ball around three quarters of the way to the other player. Of course, there are factors that should be taken into consideration when passing using the bouncing technique.

TIP! If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Muscle is good, but you can have too much.

A great way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros. You can follow the pros in online videos, on TV and you can also attend a basketball game if there is a pro team in your area. When you find a player who has the skills that you want, then watch them and emulate.

TIP! Would you like to completely fool the opposing team, making them look silly? You should try a back pass. To work it, place the ball in your most dominant hand.

Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. So do your teammates a favor by learning how to consistently haul in their less than perfect passes.

TIP! Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play.

Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you. There is nothing wrong with that. Solo games can help you immensely. Work on free throws and pivot moves. Many things can be practiced.

TIP! Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. Focus on hips, lower back and abs.

If you have a child that is strength training for basketball, their core muscles should be properly developed. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. A solid and strong core lets force that comes from the legs get used for beneficial movements when playing, like faster running and higher jumping.

TIP! If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured.

In order to get a good shot, you must use good footwork. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. Plant your feet and own that spot. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.

TIP! To hold the ball right, spread your fingers out. This will keep the ball from getting away while you hold it.

Talk to your teammates and find out what they like about your game. Are you skilled at something? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. Improve the skills where you tend to be a bit weaker while maintaining your stronger skills.

TIP! Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. This can help you avoid going out of bounds or making a bad pass.

Make it your goal to never turn away from the ball on the court. This will give you court awareness and keep you from being surprised by quick passes or turnover potentials. Also, keep your eyes on areas that open up on the court for an easy basket.

TIP! If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. Don’t let them get comfortable.

Keeping your fingers spread wide is important for holding onto the ball. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Don’t let your palms touch it. Don’t let anything but your fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.

TIP! Try to strengthen your forearms and hands to better handle the ball. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling.

Launch your layup jumps from the foot that is opposite the hand you shoot with. This means that when you’re shooting from your right hand you have to use your left foot to take off. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.

Free Throws

TIP! Use whatever hand you aren’t dribbling with as a shield between the ball and your opponent. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul.

If you wish to shoot free throws better, you have to have a routine that’s consistent. A routine that is constantly in flux will only open up more opportunities for failure. Practice makes perfect when shooting free throws. You are likely to miss your shot if you’re not settled into your routine.

TIP! If you want to perform your best in basketball, you need to eat well. When you play regularly, you need plenty of carbs for more energy, along with protein and fats.

Do off court exercises that will improve your game on the court. Work on sprints to make you faster and build your stamina. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.

TIP! A missed corner shot will usually end up on the opposite side of the basketball court. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.

You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing defense of offense. Controlling where someone else is going can be very important. This lets you figure out where you’re needing to go while not letting them set your path for you.

TIP! If the person you’re guarding is bigger than you are, put your body between this person and the player with the ball. This prevents them from getting easy passes, and hopefully prevents them from catching the ball and shooting it over your head.

After catching a ball on the rebound, position your legs so that they are set more widely than your shoulders. This improves your balance upon landing. Have your hands on both sides of the ball. Also, be sure to hold it against your chest tightly. Be careful with your elbows as hitting someone on the other team will be a foul.

TIP! Avoid getting into an argument with game officials. While you don’t agree with a call, or you have a question, don’t be rude about it.

The position you are in before and after your rebound will determine whether you get to keep the ball or not. If you wish to have better balance and power, then make sure you use both feet when you jump. After rebounding the ball, land with your feet wider than your shoulders for better balance and keep the ball close to your chest.

TIP! Practice footwork. You should know where to place each foot as you pivot or play a certain position.

Why do so many people love basketball? It’s because it is fun and simple to play. If you adore this sport, the concepts in this piece can be truly valuable to you. Follow this advice to enhance your skills and your enjoyment of the game.